How low can you go? —

Game consoles to hit new pricing lows on Black Friday

$150 for low-end Xbox 360, $200 for PS3 and Vita bundles.

You've been waiting patiently for years, watching as your friends pay up to $600 for a new gaming console. You continued biding your time, always telling yourself the next price drop is the one that will finally get you to lay down your cash. Trust us, you've waited enough. These Black Friday deals are the ones that should break your resolve.

Don't get us wrong, there will be probably be further price drops for all of these systems as they continue to age (especially the relatively new Vita). And you'll probably have to line up really early to get these deals. But if you've been waiting this long, you're likely willing to go through some trouble to save a few bucks. Trust us, these are some of the best prices you're going to see for a while.

Sony PlayStation Vita

Three bundles will be available for $199.99 each on November 23 and 24 at most US retailers:

Sony will be selling the PS3 super-slim with a 250GB hard drive and bundled copies of Uncharted Dual Pack (including the first two games) and inFamous Collection (featuring the first two games and downloadable Festival of Blood) for $199.99. The bundle also includes a 30-day subscription to PlayStation Plus.

Microsoft Xbox 360

Deals on Microsoft's console vary by store, but the absolute best value is at Walmart, where a new glossy white 4GB Xbox 360 with Skylanders and an exclusive figurine will be selling for $149.99.

Promoted Comments

You have to wonder what place is there for OUYA when $150 can get you an XBOX 360.

34 posts | registered Jan 27, 2010

Kyle Orland
Kyle is the Senior Gaming Editor at Ars Technica, specializing in video game hardware and software. He has journalism and computer science degrees from University of Maryland. He is based in the Washington, DC area. Emailkyle.orland@arstechnica.com//Twitter@KyleOrl

That's a much better looking price on the Vita...shame there still aren't really any games for it that I'm dying to play...the game line up coupled with the prioritary media cards are still gonna rate it a pass by me even at that price.

I might pull for the PS3 deal. But I am looking for a normal DS for my son. Looks like no deals on those, only the junk version of the hand-held.

The "junk version" of the handheld? What is that? If you want a "normal DS" for your son, you might as well get the DSi, which is *the same thing* as a "normal DS", but thinner and with a camera, SD slot, and better, larger screen! It's listed as one of the deals, too... But why not just get a 3DS, it plays all the old DS games and has an even bigger screen, plus you don't have to turn on 3D if you don't want too (I'm pretty sure there's even a parental option to turn it off completely if you wanted to). And it's more future-proof as I'm sure Nintendo is going to eventually stop making DS compatible games in favor of 3DS-only games (pretty sure the number of DS game being made has already started to slow).

Also, those PS3 and 360 deals are the same as they were last year, not anything surprising (I got a 160GB PS3 3k series for $199 last year with two controllers and two games). Pretty sure two years before that I got a 360 with two refurbished controllers and a 20GB HDD for about $200-250 too, so prices don't seem to have changed that much.

WalMart is selling the Nintendo DSi XL for $99.96 on Black Friday, though, that price is in store only. The deal can be found on Page 5 of their Black Friday ad, just below their $149 Xbox 360 4GB Skylanders Bundle deal.

I'd hope the Xbox 360 and PS3 are good deals - isn't it pretty much a given that this is the last year they'll be the newest console.

Technically I guess last year was the, uh, last year they were the 'newest console' since the WiiU is coming out; unless you meant last year for their own console lineage, i.e. PS4 / Xbox720, then yeah, their last Holiday Hurrah at the top of their respective company's foodchains.

I haven't seen any deals yet for the 3DSXL, which sadly was the only system I was really looking for. Anyone got a heads-up on any they've seen?

(I wanted to make some kind of "Trust Us" pun after reading the beginning of the article, but couldn't think of anything off the top of my head)

sporkinum wrote:

Buy a used xbox on craig's list. I see them under $100 all the time.

There is a decent chance your craigslist buy just happens to have a console ban attached to the machine, thus making it not LIVE enabled. If you want to take your chances, go for it. But at the current prices, you are much better going off with a new system.

I might pull for the PS3 deal. But I am looking for a normal DS for my son. Looks like no deals on those, only the junk version of the hand-held.

The "junk version" of the handheld? What is that? If you want a "normal DS" for your son, you might as well get the DSi, which is *the same thing* as a "normal DS", but thinner and with a camera, SD slot, and better, larger screen!

He probably wants the DS to have the capability to play gameboy advance games; that functionality was removed from the DSi forward.

Not quite sure that qualifies as making any of the newer models a "junk" version but to each their own.

I might pull for the PS3 deal. But I am looking for a normal DS for my son. Looks like no deals on those, only the junk version of the hand-held.

The "junk version" of the handheld? What is that? If you want a "normal DS" for your son, you might as well get the DSi, which is *the same thing* as a "normal DS", but thinner and with a camera, SD slot, and better, larger screen!

He probably wants the DS to have the capability to play gameboy advance games; that functionality was removed from the DSi forward.

Not quite sure that qualifies as making any of the newer models a "junk" version but to each their own.

The junk version is the fake 3d that has a history of screwing up kids eyes (VGB comes to mind). If I bought the "3DS", I would need to find a way to permanently disable the "3D" part. If that functionality is available, I'd buy it. Else, its the other non "3D" versions I'd need to get.

He probably wants the DS to have the capability to play gameboy advance games; that functionality was removed from the DSi forward.

Not quite sure that qualifies as making any of the newer models a "junk" version but to each their own.

The junk version is the fake 3d that has a history of screwing up kids eyes (VGB comes to mind). If I bought the "3DS", I would need to find a way to permanently disable the "3D" part. If that functionality is available, I'd buy it. Else, its the other non "3D" versions I'd need to get.

Then beano's suggestion for the DSi is completely accurate as it does not have 3d and is on sale at Kmart.

He probably wants the DS to have the capability to play gameboy advance games; that functionality was removed from the DSi forward.

Not quite sure that qualifies as making any of the newer models a "junk" version but to each their own.

The junk version is the fake 3d that has a history of screwing up kids eyes (VGB comes to mind). If I bought the "3DS", I would need to find a way to permanently disable the "3D" part. If that functionality is available, I'd buy it. Else, its the other non "3D" versions I'd need to get.

Then beano's suggestion for the DSi is completely accurate as it does not have 3d and is on sale at Kmart.

Also, there's a slider on the 3DS that you can use to scale back or turn off entirely the 3D effect. If you wanted to make sure your kid doesn't re-enable it I guess you could pull it out or superglue it in place after setting to to zero.

You have to wonder what place is there for OUYA when $150 can get you an XBOX 360.

OUYA isn't being created for the consumer, it's being made for the developer. The OUYA won't be charging SDK fees for people to make games for it. Really it's going to bring gaming to everyone like flash games do.

We're going to get the ones with the gift cards because we'd buy something else at Toys R Us anyway. I need two more to use as set-top boxes for my Media Center DVR. 4GB models for $129 beats the Ceton extender look expensive. No if space, sound and other such stuff is a concern go for the Ceton but as an extender, it is hard to not pick up a few and finish my whole house DVR setup.

You have to wonder what place is there for OUYA when $150 can get you an XBOX 360.

You under-estimate the power of FOSS. The fact that OUYA is built as an open platform brings along many FOSS loyals in its own right, but then you have to look at the whole system. While PS3 and XBox360 are making strides towards being more "all-around" type systems, and it may not come into measure very often, but OUYA being Android based will have FULL web available, it will have a rapid-development platform for new apps and games, the ability to be used as an e-mail and productivity center, which I can really see a benefit to, *play game, e-mail from boss pops up, take care of 'business', keep playing* all with as little interruption to your 'work-flow' as possible.

And of course you have to consider the fact that you're not doling out monthly fees to some "gold package" just for the "privilege" of playing your games online, or watching Netflicks.

I might pull for the PS3 deal. But I am looking for a normal DS for my son. Looks like no deals on those, only the junk version of the hand-held.

The "junk version" of the handheld? What is that? If you want a "normal DS" for your son, you might as well get the DSi, which is *the same thing* as a "normal DS", but thinner and with a camera, SD slot, and better, larger screen! It's listed as one of the deals, too... But why not just get a 3DS, it plays all the old DS games and has an even bigger screen, plus you don't have to turn on 3D if you don't want too (I'm pretty sure there's even a parental option to turn it off completely if you wanted to). And it's more future-proof as I'm sure Nintendo is going to eventually stop making DS compatible games in favor of 3DS-only games (pretty sure the number of DS game being made has already started to slow).

GBA compatibility. Guitar Hero.

Heck, I still have original Gameboy games in barely-used condition*, I'm just not sure if my last compatible hardware has bit the dust yet.

*(I'm careful with cartridges. They've been played. A lot. They just don't look the part.)

You have to wonder what place is there for OUYA when $150 can get you an XBOX 360.

You under-estimate the power of FOSS. The fact that OUYA is built as an open platform brings along many FOSS loyals in its own right, but then you have to look at the whole system. While PS3 and XBox360 are making strides towards being more "all-around" type systems, and it may not come into measure very often, but OUYA being Android based will have FULL web available, it will have a rapid-development platform for new apps and games, the ability to be used as an e-mail and productivity center, which I can really see a benefit to, *play game, e-mail from boss pops up, take care of 'business', keep playing* all with as little interruption to your 'work-flow' as possible.

And of course you have to consider the fact that you're not doling out monthly fees to some "gold package" just for the "privilege" of playing your games online, or watching Netflicks.

While I certainly am not rooting against the Ouya, I think the rumored Linux Steambox has a better chance of bringing FOSS to the living room and being embraced by gamers at large. Assuming Valve wouldn't lock it down to the point of it no longer being FOSS.

While Steam has traditionally been seen as free-ware, it has never been open-source. Which is the only major concern I've seen about the Steam4Linux platform. Being as it's seen as the first major driving force to bring common gaming to the Linux platform (at least that has a chance, see Loki games) that it may bring with it a precedent that leaves a bad-taste in the mouths of the FOSS devout.

But even Stallman, "the ghost of FOSS-past" agrees that it's better than the current ecosystem, and only time, and user reaction, can control how the future progresses.

I do have high hopes for the Steam-box, I've been in love with Valve products since '98

I had a ps3...got rid of it earlier this year. Went back to PC gaming. Just got pissed off with Sony's treatment of their customers, and the fact that security seems to be an afterthought. Never did like Wii, and xbox well, same thing all over again (mind you I DO like MS as a company). Just easier for me and I don't have a super high end PC. Games are cheaper on Steam for the most part and they always have sales.

And I just got frustrated and cluttering up my space with discs. And with what seems to be a war on used anything with consoles, for me this was a better option. Now, Ouya does look interesting. But then again so did OnLive.

This is all a pipe dream for me right now since I'm still currently in the "not able to get it" camp, but I'd like a PS3 since it currently supports the NFL Sunday ticket without the requirements of having to be a DirecTV subscriber.

My chief concern is that soon after the PS4 comes out, that somehow Ticket support will be dropped by Sony, NFL, DTV, or all of the above leaving me with a shiny new console in the last third of its claimed lifecycle and my primary reason for getting it torpedoed. It would be our first BD player and would fill the HD Netflix gap left behind when I allowed my XBLG account to expire so it wouldn't be totally wasted.

I can tough it out another year since this season is nearly done, but does anyone think I have anything to worry about?